Google has bought Fitbit which is known for making smart bands and smartwatches.
The deal is set for $2.1 billion and announced on Friday evening. Google SVP of devices and services Rick Osterloh said on a blog post, Fitbit purchase is “an opportunity to invest even more in Wear OS as well as introduce Made by Google wearable devices into the market.”
The official announcement came days later after it was rumored just like Nest, which is also under Google now. Of course, the main reason behind this deal is Google is trying to push the limit of their WearOS and put up a real competition against Apple Watch.
We’ve signed an agreement to acquire @Fitbit. Together, we aim to spur innovation in wearables and build helpful products to benefit more people around the world. https://t.co/HSfQVWnHJB
— Google (@Google) November 1, 2019
Fitbit is known for strict privacy rules till date. Being aware of it, Google has noted that the users have “the choice to review, move, or delete their data”. Fitbit also issued a separate press release saying “Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads.”
Interestingly, Fitbit does not use Google’s WearOS as its smartwatch operating system. They already some form of the in-house OS, which was further developed when Fitbit bought Pebble. On the other hand, there are big manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi uses WearOS.
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Apple has always been on the top with their smartwatches and the growth is impressive. With the latest release Watch Series 5, Apple has updated and added many features like always-on display and ECG. Android users never had a true alternative of that, although Samsung is catching up.
Google was solely dependent on its partners when it comes to WearOS, just like android. After getting recognition as a smartphone hardware manufacturer Google is now focusing on other options. As the deal is on, hopefully, we will be able to see smart bands and smartwatches with Google branding. The hardware of Fitbit and privacy policy and Google’s WearOS, the perfect smartwatch is might be on the horizon for Android users.